Rumour Mongering: Reds Battle Tottenham for German Rising Star

In recent years, Liverpool being linked with many of the same names as Tottenham Hotspur has become something of a too regular occurrence. In recent years, back to Brendan Rodgers’ time in charge at the club, they have been regularly linked with a move for Schalke’s rising star Max Meyer.

It only makes sense, then, to at last combine those two things, which has happened this week thanks to the not so hard work of SportBild in Germany and Le 10 Sport in France—who have become increasingly interested in the goings on at Liverpool since PSG began to sniff around Philippe Coutinho.

Meyer, who is now 21 years of age and can make an impact anywhere across the attacking band, seems like something of the prototypical Liverpool target: hard working, technically gifted, with a solid return in a top league and plenty of potential to get better over the next few seasons.

It’s hardly surprising he was linked to the club before Klopp arrived given how well he fit Fenway Sports Group’s recruitment strategy, and Klopp’s presence would only seem to make him a more likely candidate. Spurs with Mauricio Pochettino in charge similarly seem something of a natural fit.

The youngster has seen his return dip slightly this season, with a goal and three assists to show for 14 appearances so far and a goal involvement every 194 minutes. Last season, though, Meyer had six goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances as a 20-year-old and a goal involvement every 172 minutes.

Though he can line up anywhere in support of a striker, if there’s one knock against him as a potential Liverpool target it’s that he lacks the top end speed of a player like Sadio Mané, who Liverpool have been rumoured to be seeking cover to help sustain their title challenge while he’s on duty at the AFCON.

Earlier in the week, Mayer admitted that he had been the target of interest from clubs in England—believed but not confirmed to be Tottenham and Liverpool—but insisted that he’s happy at Schalke for now and will worry about a potential future transfer “When the time comes.”